Local execs confident of peaceful barangay polls in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - The inter-agency provincial peace and order council (PPOC) is convinced the forthcoming October 2013 barangay elections in Maguindanao’s 36 towns will just be as peaceful as the May 13 synchronized local and midterm elections.

Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, director of the Maguindanao provincial police office, said they will continue with their campaign against illegal firearms, even as the Commission on Elections has already lifted the nationwide gun ban as part of the security measures during last month’s synchronized local and mid-term elections.

Jocson said they will also continue to reach out and assist gun owners in facilitating the renewal of their expired licenses as part of the nationwide campaign of the Philippine National Police to account for all documented guns in the hands of private individuals.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, presiding chairman of the PPOC, said he will direct his 36 mayors to initiate consultations among sectoral representatives,  religious and Moro traditional leaders to determine possible peace and security issues that may arise in their respective communities during the October barangay polls.

“Even if we are confident we shall have peaceful barangay elections in the province, we still have to remain vigilant and focused on the peaceful settlement of domestic peace and security issues in all of the 36 towns in the area,” Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu, provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, won in his bid for a second term last May 13, along with his running mate, Datu Lester Sinsuat, who emerged victorious in last month’s vice gubernatorial race in the province.

Mangudadatu said last month’s electoral exercise was more peaceful if compared with the past elections in the province.

He said he is optimistic the PPOC can still settle several more family feuds involving Moro clans in some Maguindanao towns before the October barangay polls.

Local Moro clans are known for their tradition of pitting candidates for elective positions in the barangay governments.

The PPOC has brokered the settlement of almost 30 clan wars, called “rido” in the vernacular, in the past three years, resulting to the reconciliation of families locked in bloody conflicts sparked by politics, land disputes and aggressions against “maratabat,” or family honor.

“There has been a fragile peace in Maguindanao for three years now. There was 'political democracy’ during the 2010 and the May 13, 2013 elections. We are confident the barangay elections will just be as peaceful as well,” Mangudadatu said.

Lawyer Makmod Mending Jr., regional local government secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said they are keen on the early formulation of a barangay elections security plan to complement the security measures the Comelec is to impose in October.

Mending said his office is also convinced the October barangay elections will turn out peaceful since it is virtually apolitical, or a non-partisan exercise in nature.

Mending said they also have confidence in the capability of the municipal and provincial peace and order councils to help the poll body administer safe and honest barangay elections in October.